News In Brief

December 27, 1983

Managua, Nicaragua

Sandinistas face setback after Indians' exodus

Nicaragua's leftist leaders have accused the US of complicity in the mass escape of 3,000 Miskito Indians to Honduras. The exodus was seen by diplomats as a major, embarrassing setback to the government.

The Indians were led across the Honduran frontier over the weekend by American-born Bishop Salvador Schaefler, whom the Nicaraguan government last week claimed was killed by US-backed insurgents. President Reagan telephoned Schaefler on Christmas to congratulate him for his deed.

The flight from Nicaragua came three weeks after the Nicaraguan government declared an amnesty for Miskitos accused of crimes against state security and invited those exiled in neighboring countries to return.